Mission: Malta, March, 1942

[Hack9]

This is my first try at making an offline mission:

Aces over Malta

This mission is based on the events of 10 March, 1942 in which the Spitfire pilots of No.249 Squadron engaged in their first combat over Malta. 

Historically, 9 Ju88's and their Bf109F escorts of II. & III./ JG53 entered Malta's airspace at around 1020 hrs and were met by 7 Spitfire V's (of 249 Sqn.) and 12 Hurricane IIb's (of 126 & 185 Sqns.)  249 Squadron claimed 1 destroyed, 2 probable and 1 damaged.  One Bf109 from 8./ JG53 was actually downed but no Spitfires were lost.  However, 3 of the Ju88's bombed Luqa and destroyed the last serviceable Wellington on the island.

Sides:

3 Spitfire V & 6 Hurricane I (Stand-in's for the .303 armed Hurri IIbs)

vs.

6 Ju88A-4's & 16 Bf109F-4's.

Here's the link:

http://fb.esnips.com/doc/ed8a4298-7587-488d-963d-8e8e545f76bb/Malta001

• You need the Italy_1 map if you don't already have it installed.
• The Italy_1 folder found in Malta001.zip goes in your Aces High II\ahiiterr folder.
• Put Malta001.mis in your Aces High II\offmiss folder.
• Put Malta001.res in your Aces High II\missres folder.

This isn't really an instant action mission and there's a good bit of taxiing and/or climbing/forming up to be done; around 6 minutes worth playing either side before you get to fight. Once the fight is joined you'll have around 8 & 1/2 minutes to duke it out before warping back to base.

I've already got Malta002 about half done which will depict the late afternoon action of the same day's fighting over the island.  Mission 2 has more aircraft involved and more time to fight with less time spent getting there.  I'll likely finish it up this week if time permits.

Hope you enjoy this one.

<S>
Hack9

[soda72]

looks like fun

 

[USRanger]

Downloading now.

[USRanger]

Excellent mission, especially for your first.  I look forward to seeing more from you.  Next time, shorten your briefing time down though.  It was about a minute too long.  I kept wondering if it was gonna start or my screen was froze.   Seriously though, great job.  I recommend this one to peeps.  I flew a Spit5 and had a lot of fun.

[Hack9]

Hey thanks Ranger.  I had a lot of fun making the mission. I was actually wondering if I should cut that briefing time in half...but next time I'll keep it to 30 sec or less.  I think I got a little carried away. 

It'd be nice if there was a way for players to skip the briefing if they wanted to. (Is there?)  I tried deploying to the runway from the clipboard before the briefing time had elapsed and still had to wait till the briefing was over before the rest of the flight would join...and then things got wacky. The game really doesn't like it when you do that. Hopefully a later version of the ME will address that.

Glad you enjoyed the mission.  As I said, I had fun putting that one together...but I think I started over 3 or 4 times.  I like to dive in and try to learn as I go, but there were a few times when I thought I was never going to get it all working right.  Finally it started seeming like it might work after all.  I enjoy flying the mission, but wasn't sure if anybody else was going to like it.  It's nice to hear positive feedback from one of the content creation gurus.   

Mission 2 will be done some time next week I think.  I'll have some time this weekend to work on it.

[Hack9]

I got some time today to make some changes so here's an updated version of the first Malta mission with the briefing time reduced to 30 seconds.  The new file names are malta1_1.mis & res.  Italy_1 data remains unchanged.  Delete the original malta001.mis & res files if you want to reduce clutter/confusion when viewing the offline mission list in the game as the updated mission will not directly replace the original.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/db41cb46-f163-4d15-a792-950968bb1207/Malta1_1

Hack9

[LBurke6652]

I downloaded the mission and put the Italy_1 folder into the AHIIterr folder and put the other mission files into their appropriate folders per your directions.  When I go into the Choose Terrain list in the game, there is no Italy or Malta map in the list.  I must be doing something wrong.  Any ideas?

[USRanger]

Only the Italy_1.res file goes in your AHIITERR folder, not an entire folder. 

[SgtPappy]

Hurrah! A commonwealth mission! Thanks so much, Hack!

EDIT: Yea, I have no Italy map either. The initial instructions state to "The Italy_1 folder found in Malta001.zip goes in your Aces High II\ahiiterr folder."

And then it is later stated that only the 'Italy_1.res file" goes into the folder. But there is no .res file. I tried putting the three files (.fld, .var, .pln) files in without the folder, and nothing happened.

[USRanger]

Yep, you're right.  I just redownloaded it to check it out.  The Italy1.res isn't in there.  I already had the terrain, so I didn't notice.  You can get it here:

http://downloads.hitechcreations.com/AHITALY_1.EXE

The .pln, .var & .fld files also need to go in your AHTERR folder in addition.

[Hack9]

Sorry about the confusion re: Italy_1 folder.

  Ranger for clearing up my misdirection.  Thank you sir.

[SgtPappy]

Thanks Ranger!